Playing with Fire
Journalist’s role
By Gonzalo Duque
OUR attention was called by a balikbayan concerning our column subject last week and also partly the other week, on our oft-repeated appeal to Dagupan City officials — the SP members, particularly — to already come up with an ordinance on sewerage management for our city.
It seems our ceaseless appeals have fallen on deaf ears!
Why are they so unfeeling or inept? Some of them are preoccupied with epal, image building, pa-pogi … we really hope and pray that our very own Mayor Belen who cares a lot for our city would be able to see thru such posturings…
We said here last time that continued neglect of river wastes could result in serious diseases and the death to our marine industry.
Do not forget that the city has gained massive world publicity because of our colorful Bangusan party recently. But what if we can’t sustain the supremacy of the bangus industry?
It’s really a must that our river system is maintained clean and cleansed of filth like that dreaded germ E. Coli which comes from human waste!
The situation reminds us of a movie, “The Enemy of the People,” which is about a river – a Pilgrimage river – which is swarming with tourists, pilgrims and patients seeking cure.
It happened that a member of the Fourth Estate got curious about the alleged healing power of the river. He had it examined, we mean, the quality of the water, and what did he find? Horror! It’s infected with E. Coli. Do you know what E. Coli is? Tae! Grrr…
Let’s thank that journalist because he did not simply swallow hook, line and sinker what the community promoted as a tourism or pilgrim’s mecca. Being inquisitive as a true journalist should be, he looked beyond the surface … nagtanong-tanong, nag-investigate… And lo and behold! Yang dinadayo pala ng tao ay marumi, diseased, infected!
So, he published what he found! And like what stories on our heroes, the journalist was vilified for destroying a tourism and pilgrimage mecca!
Such are the destiny of great people… Rizal was damned and in fact shot for opening the people’s eyes! Jesus Christ, too, was nailed on the cross for opening the people’s eyes to the truth!
This columnist is ready and prepared to be crucified, too, for advocating the establishment of a sewerage system… in order to kill a social cancer, the preponderance of ineptness, nonsense, epal-mentality, over what should matter and what should be done for the health and wellness of Dagupenos.
We really hope the time won’t come when we wouldn’t tell some councilors “we told you so” when it’s too late!
* * * *
We are elated by the outpouring of congratulations – not to us, really, but for the President’s appointment of our brother-in-law, Deputy Gov. Nestor Espenilla Jr., — as Gov. Armando Tetangco’s successor.
Some people were saying we caused his appointment! No naman. The President picked him from a field of four including Deputy Gov. Diwa Gunigundo, our fellow Dagupeno Peter Favila and PDP-Laban vice president Boy Moncupa, who were endorsed by powerful people.
Nesting, as characteristic of him, just kept quiet. Well, on credentials, he is tops, magna cum laude in UP Economics and master’s degree holder of Sophia University in Japan.
He’s been with CB for the last 36 years!
Marunong kumilatis si Pangulo!
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